Hand exercisers

ABSTRACT

A hand exerciser includes a loop having a smooth outer periphery and a plurality of rings each having a hole so that the loop extends through the hole of each ring. An inner diameter of the hole of each ring is 1.5 times of an outer diameter of the loop so that the rings are rotatable relative to the loop. The user rotates the loop to keep the rotating rings maintained at a section and the vibration of the rings to the loop exercises the hand holding the loop.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hand exerciser having a loop with aplurality of rings rotatably mounted to the loop. The rings are rotatedrelative to the loop and are maintained at a position by rotating theloop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional hand exerciser is shown in FIG. 8 and generally includesa handle 10 which has a rope 11 connected thereto and a ball 12 isconnected to a distal end of the rope 11. The ball 12 includes aplurality of holes 120. A tip end 14 extends from an end of the handle10 and two cups 13 are connected radially to the handle 10. The userthrows the ball 12 and tries to let the tip end 14 penetrate through oneof the holes 120 of the ball 12. Alternatively, the user may catch theball 12 by the cups 13. This requires a lot of coordination efforts tosuccessfully catch the ball 12 so that most of the users are frustratedby frequent failures.

The present invention intends to provide a hand exerciser that the userhas to rotate the loop and requires skill to keep the rings on theirpositions on the loop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a hand exerciser which comprises a loop having a smooth outerperiphery and extending through a hole in each of rings which arerotatable relative to the loop.

The present invention will become more obvious from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment inaccordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the hand exerciser of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows the rings are rotatable about the loop;

FIG. 3 shows the rings have eccentric holes and are rotatable about theloop;

FIG. 4 shows that the rings have polygonal outer peripheries;

FIG. 5 shows the user holds the loop and rotates the rings when usingthe hand exerciser;

FIG. 6 shows the components of force applied to the loop and the rings;

FIG. 7 shows the force analysis of the rings at different positions onthe loop, and

FIG. 8 shows a conventional hand exerciser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hand exerciser of the present inventioncomprises a loop 20 having a smooth outer periphery and a plurality ofrings 30 each have a hole 31 defined therethrough and the loop 20extends through the hole 31 of each ring 30. An inner diameter of thehole 31 of each ring 30 is 1.5 times of an outer diameter of the loop 20so that the rings 30 are rotatable relative to the loop 20. As shown inFIG. 5, when using the hand exerciser, one hand holds the loop 20 andthe other hand rotates the rings 30 so that the rings 30 are rotatableabout the loop 20. During the rotation of the rings 30, as shown in FIG.6, the inner periphery of each ring 30 is in contact with the loop 20 soas to shake or vibrate the loop 20 and therefore exercises the handholding the loop 20.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, during the rotation, the gravity “B” of eachring 30 is composed of two component forces “X” and “Y”. If theeccentric force “D” of the rotation of the rings 30 designated by thearrow A1 at an upper position on the loop 20 is less than the componentforce “Y”, the ring 30 cannot be maintained at that position and willdrop to the bottom of the loop 20. When the eccentric force “D” of therotation of the rings 30 designated by the arrow A2 at the sectionincluded by two dotted lines in FIG. 7 is equal to the component force“Y” and in opposite directions, the ring 30 can be maintained at thatposition. When the eccentric force “D” of the rotation of the rings 30designated by the arrow A3 at the lower position applies in the samedirection as the component force “Y”, the ring 30 will drop to thebottom of the loop 20.

When the user rotates the loop 20, there is a frictional force “C”between the rings 30 and the loop 20 and the direction of the frictionalforce “C” is shown in FIG. 7 so that the rings 30 moves upward. If thefrictional force “C” is larger than the component force “X” of the ring30, the ring 30 moves upward along the loop 20. On the contrary, if thefrictional force “C” is less than the component force “X” of the ring30, the ring 30 moves downward along the loop 20. If the frictionalforce “C” is the same as the component force “X” of the ring 30, thering 30 is maintained at the position. Therefore, the user has to rotatethe loop 20 at a proper speed to maintain the position of the rings 30between the two dotted lines.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hole in each ring 30 can be an eccentric hole300 defined through each of the rings 30 such that the force that hitsthe loop 20 is different from the embodiment as described above. Asshown in FIG. 4, the ring 30 may have a polygonal outer periphery. Therings 30 may have a sound generating member or light emitting member soas to increase the entertainment features.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art thatfurther embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

1. A hand exerciser comprising: a loop having cross sections including asmooth outer periphery and an outer diameter; and a plurality of ringseach having a hole defined therethrough, with the hole having an innerdiameter generally equal to 1.5 times of the outer diameter of the crosssections of the loop, with the loop extending through the hole of eachring so that the rings are rotatable relative to the loop, with the holeof each ring contacting with the loon so as to shake or vibrate the loopand therefore exercising the hands holding the loop. 2 (canceled). 3.The hand exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of ringseach includes an outer periphery, wherein the hole through each of therings is eccentrically defined relative to the outer periphery of thering.
 4. The hand exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least oneof the rings has a polygonal outer periphery.
 5. The hand exerciser asclaimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the rings has a polygonalouter periphery.
 6. A hand exerciser comprising: a loop having crosssections including a smooth outer periphery; and a plurality of ringseach having a hole defined therethrough, with the loop extending throughthe hole of each ring so that the rings are rotatable relative to theloop, wherein the plurality of rings each includes an outer periphery,wherein the hole through each of the rings is eccentrically definedrelative to the outer periphery of the ring.
 7. The hand exerciser asclaimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of the rings has a polygonalouter periphery.
 8. A hand exerciser comprising: a loop having crosssections including a smooth outer periphery, and a plurality of ringseach having a hole defined therethrough, with the loop extending throughthe hole of each ring so that the rings are rotatable relative to theloop, wherein at least one of the rings has a polygonal outer periphery.